ASP Quiksilver Pro France | Lock, stock and plenty of smoking barrels

ASP Quiksilver Pro France | Lock, stock and plenty of smoking barrels

A full day of six-foot barrels washing in at La Graviere saw the ASP Quiksilver Pro France advance to the semi-final stage. Taking full advantage of the swell conditions were championship contenders Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson.

Kelly Slater may have travelled to France in third place on this season’s ASP World Tour but his performances have reminded everybody of the championship threat he carries. During his quarter-final heat Slater posted a perfect 10 followed by a 9.93 to recorded the highest score of this year’s Quiksilver Pro France.

“You know the waves are so good, that literally both guys can get two 10s out there right now, there’s that many good waves. I was throwing away better waves than I’ve had all contest, it’s just pumping. The colour of the sky and everything came together, the wind, the swell and the tide was perfect for the size, it was really nice. These are some of the best beachbreaks in the world right there.”

Slater will now face championship rival Joel Parkinson in the semi-finals when the competition resumes at La Graviere.

Joel Parkinson has the chance to collect more championship points in France as he searches for his first ever ASP World Tour title. Parko will be hoping to carry on the great form he showed while defeating Gabriel Medina in his quarter-final heat.

“That was sick, that was unreal. That’s what you dream of when you’re trying to make the tour. You just want to have a nice heat in France at La Graviere when it’s pumping. There were so many good waves out there and I wished I could have surfed for an hour.”

Parko was building up momentum throughout his quarter-final and it culminated in a Perfect 10 on a solid righthander.

“That 10, I was wondering if it was a close-out or if there was a doggy-door. The soul arch in there, I was just feeling it! It was such a sick view. When you came out you could see everyone on the beach and all their hands up, it’s such a good feeling.”

Joining Joel Parkinson and Kelly Slater in the semi-finals of the Quiksilver Pro France are John John Florence and Dane Reynolds. Hawaii’s John John and wildcard pick Dane from the US will be the first out in the waves when the competition gets back underway.